Google, Android to be ‘Biggest Stories’ This Year, Survey Says

Management consultancyChetan Sharma Consulting conducted a survey of “movers and shakers of the mobile industry”, who largely agreed that Google and its Android operating system will be the “biggest stories” this year, the company said.

More than half of the respondents expected the Mountain View giant to dominate headlines with updates and apps. Google is also expected to make the biggest mobile acquisition, and have a strong position in mobile payments, the survey found.

Chetan Sharma also asked respondents on which company they think will make a comeback in mobile in 2011, to which about 30% answered Microsoft and its Windows 7 smartphone operating system.

The respondents were also understandably bullish on mobile advertising. 50% predicted 200% growth or higher on mobile ad spend, and only about 4% said it will stay flat this year.

For novelty’s sake, Chetan Sharma also tasked the respondents on who they thought was the mobile person of the year. While Steve Jobs came out tops with Apple’s iPhone 4 and iPad mega-releases, the contagious Angry Birds game placed a surprising second with a 20% vote.

Chetan Sharma polled 255 insiders, mostly C-level executives from North America, to arrive at its findings.